Gemstone questions

Authenticity & Safety

A photograph can show color, but it cannot prove identity, natural origin, or treatment. These guides explain reports, seller language, home-test limits, return terms, and common warning signs.

Understand what an observation can prove

A home observation may raise a question without resolving identity. Read the limits of home identification before using a scratch or visual test, and keep moissanite-versus-diamond checks separate from natural-versus-synthetic origin.

Three loose faceted stones, blue, pink-red, and green, on a white surface.

Can You Identify a Lab-Grown Gemstone at Home?

Home observations can raise questions, but reliable natural-versus-laboratory-grown identification often needs magnification and advanced laboratory testing.

Colorless round faceted center stone with small side stones in a pale-metal ring.

Moissanite vs Diamond: What Home Tests Can and Cannot Prove

Thermal testers, sparkle, fog, and phone photographs have limits. Learn when a dual tester or professional identification is needed.

Green prismatic crystal embedded in pale host rock.

Can You Spot a Fake Emerald Online?

Check emerald listings for identity, treatment disclosure, matching reports, photo limitations, and return terms before deciding whether to buy.

Yellow-metal signet ring with a dark engraved face, viewed at an angle.

Vintage Gemstone Jewelry: Authenticity Red Flags

Old settings do not prove old stones. Check replacements, assembled gems, foil backs, worn mountings, repairs, and period-inappropriate claims.

Keep treatment and documentation attached to the stone

A material name does not describe every enhancement. Emerald fissure filling changes care and disclosure questions; ruby laboratory reports help distinguish observations about identity and treatment from a price appraisal.

Oiled Emeralds: Treatment, Care, and Value

Understand why emeralds are oiled, what treatment extent means, and how fissure filling changes cleaning, repair, disclosure, and value.

Gemological report booklets showing several report formats on a white background.

Which Gemstone Treatments Change Value?

Compare heat, oil, resin, dye, coating, diffusion, irradiation, and fracture filling by stability, disclosure, care, and market acceptance.

Loose pink-red round faceted stone on a white background.

Ruby Reports Explained: Identity, Treatment, and Origin

Learn what a colored-stone laboratory report can say about ruby identity, detectable treatment, measurements, and geographic origin opinions.

Plan the purchase and the inspection window

A safe purchase starts before payment. Use online seller checks to inspect the evidence trail, then compare the return and examination terms with the time you would need for independent assessment.